Kalanchoe plant named Big Surprise

ABSTRACT

A Kalanchoe plant named Big Surprise particularly characterized by its coral-red flower color with red highlights; flower diameter of 16 to 17 mm at maturity; flowering response, from 9 weeks in summer to 11 weeks in winter after start of short days; excellent keeping quality of flowers and foliage; branches freely with or without pinching; vigorous plant with short internodes; responsive to B-9 to reduce internode length and peduncle elongation; and adaptability to various pot sizes.

The present invention relates to a new and distinctive cultivar ofkalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Poelln.,and referred to by the cultivar name Big Surprise.

Big Surprise, identified as 406-260, is a product of a planned breedingprogram which had the objective of creating new kalanchoe cultivars foryear-round commercial production having an earlier flowering response,well branched yet compact flowering plants, suitability for flowering inpots ranging from 10 to 15 cm, and with good flower and foliage keepingquality.

Big Surprise was originated from a cross made by the inventor MargaretM. Fleming in a controlled breeding program in Half Moon Bay, Calif., in1983.

The female parent of Big Surprise was the cultivar identified asEternity, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,253. The male parent wasthe cultivar identified as Cinnabar, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.5,160.

Big Surprise was discovered and selected as one flowering plant withinthe progeny of the stated cross by Margaret M. Fleming in September of1984 in a controlled environment in Half Moon Bay, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Big Surprise was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection inJanuary of 1985 in a controlled environment in Half Moon Bay, Calif., byMargaret M. Fleming.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successiveplantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Big Surprise are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction. Big Surprise hasnot been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Thephenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such astemperature, light intensity and daylength.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Soquel, Calif., under greenhouse conditions which approximatethose generally used in commercial greenhouse practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Big Surprise, which, in combination,distinguish this kalanchoe as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Coral-red flower color with red highlights.

2. Flower diameter of 16-17 mm at maturity.

3. Flowering response of from 9 weeks in summer to 11 weeks in winter,from start of short day treatments.

4. Excellent keeping quality of both flowers and foliage.

5. Branches freely with or without pinching.

6. Vigorous plant with short internodes.

7. Good responsiveness to B-9 to reduce internode length and peduncleelongation.

8. Proper scheduling makes this new cultivar suitable for production in10 cm to 15 cm pots.

The accompanying colored photographic drawings show typicalinflorescence and leaf characteristics of Big Surprise, with colorsbeing as nearly true as possible with illustrations of this type.

Sheet 1 is a color photograph showing in perspective view a plant of BigSurprise grown as a non-pinched flowering kalanchoe in a 10 cm pot.

Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph showing the leaves of BigSurprise at three stages of development (mature, intermediate andimmature).

No commercial cultivar known to the inventor has the same flower coloras Big Surprise. However, the female parent Eternity may be compared inseveral aspects. Similar traits are flower size, keeping quality offlowers and foliage, responsiveness to B-9, and adaptability to variouspot sizes. In comparison to Eternity, Big Surprise has a much fasterflowering response, has a darker flower color, branches more freely, hasmore vigorous growth, and has smaller, more lanceolate foliage.

In comparison to the male parent cultivar Cinnabar, both Big Surpriseand Cinnabar are early blooming. However, Big Surprise flowerssubstantially longer. In addition, Big Surprise has larger flowers and ataller habit. The flower color of Cinnabar is red-orange and uniform,whereas Big Surprise is red-coral with deeper red highlights. Further,the foliage of Big Surprise is more lanceolate in shape, more serrated,more durable, darker green in color, and does not degrade with age whencompared with the foliage of Cinnabar.

In comparison with the sister seedling Radiance, both are early blooming(9-11 weeks), and flower for long periods of time. Although the foliageof Big Surprise and Radiance is smaller than either parent, and is asdurable as Eternity, the foliage of Big Surprise and Radiance are notalike in either color, form or size. Big Surprise is more vigorous andopen than Radiance, and substantially taller. Although the flower colorsof Big Surprise and Radiance are both coral and red, the coral tone inthe flowers of Big Surprise is much more pronounced and the respectiveflower colors as a result are distinctly different.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined onplant material grown as a non-pinched pot plant in a 10 cm pot inSoquel, Calif., on Oct. 9, 1988.

Classification:

Botanical.--Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Poelln. cv. Big Surprise.

Commercial.--Flowering pot Kalanchoe.

Parentage:

Female parent.--Eternity.

Male parent.--Cinnabar.

Propagation:

(A) Type cutting.--Short tip cutting, with stems up to 2 cm.

(B) Time to root.--10 days at 21° C. in summer, 14 days at 21° inwinter.

(C) Rooting habit.--Many very fine roots, fibrous.

Plant description:

(A) Form.--Vigorous, upright growth. Growing and scheduling practicescan produce a small plant in a 10 cm pot up to a larger plant in a 15 cmpot.

(B) Habit of growth.--Rate of growth fast for this type of plant, with3-4 applications of 3500 ppm B-9 SP growth regulation being thepreferred regimen. Generally, shoots are formed at every node. Height ofplant above 10 cm. pot is 20-30 cm; internode length of vegetativenatural plant is 15-30 mm.

(C) Foliage description.--Leaves simple, opposite, slightly lobed. 1.Size: Average full grown leaf in a 10 cm flowering pot is 130 mm long×65mm wide. 2. Shape: Ovate to elliptic, apex obtuse to slightly pointed,base attenuate. 3. Texture: Glabrous, coriaceous, succulent. 4. Margin:Sinuate to crenate. 5. Color: Mature foliage: Upper surface 147A; Undersurface 147B. 6. Durability: Excellent. No degradation observed, eventhe lower foliage of plants retained for months beyond normalexpectancy.

Flowering description:

(A) Flowering habit.--Inflorescence of each shoot is formed bydichotomous branching, starting with opening of terminal flower of mainaxis, followed by terminal flowers of the side branches, continuing withsubsequent development of branches in the inflorescence. Opening of newbuds (each of which is 12-17 mm. in length) will continue for two monthsor more. Individual flowers last two weeks or more after opening.

(B) Flowering response.--Flowering time under controlled daylength afterstart of short days is 9 weeks in summer to 11 weeks in winter.

(C) Flowers borne.--Compound dichasial cymes; peduncle length 5-15 cm.,diameter 3-7 mm.; pedicel length 5-7 mm., diameter approximately 1.0 mm.

(D) Quantity of flowers.--Highly floriferous, with up to 100 flowers permajor inflorescence and up to 500 flowers per plant in a 10 cm. potproduced in accordance with commercial culture; high number of flowerson both main axis and side laterals, with 4 to 6 side laterals in a 10cm pot.

(E) Petals.--1. Shape: Slightly pointed to almost round. Petals slightlybend down when flowers are fully open. 2. Color: Upper surface: 41B,highlighted with 41A. Under surface: 37C, slightly streaked with 41B. 3.Number of petals: 4, united in corolla. 4. Flower diameter: 16 to 17 mmat maturity.

(F) Reproductive organs.--1. Stamens: 8 in number. a. Anther shape:Flat, elliptical, color yellow. b. Filament color: Light green. c.Pollen color: Yellow. 2. Pistils a. Stigma shape: Flat, crystalline,color greenish white. b. Style color: Light green. c. Ovaries: 4-celled,size 4 mm long, color light green.

(G) Keeping qualities.--Excellent. Each floret can be expected to lasttwo weeks or more, and the plant itself many weeks.

Disease resistance: Resistant to Botrytis and Powdery Mildew. To datechlorosis, necrotic spots, stem rot, root rot and tip die-back have notbeen observed.

Fragrance: No perceptible fragrance of flowers or foliage.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct plant of Kalanchoe named Big Surprise, asdescribed and illustrated.